Shera recipe • The Power of Thrift (2024)

The Power of Thrift
Early retirement through the power of thrift

By Thriftygal | December 18, 2017

15 Comments

My second year of law school, I told my mom I wanted to learn everything she knew how to make. I would measure the ingredients and take pictures and write out careful directions. With that same approach, I also planned to learn everything my aunts knew how to make. My brilliant idea was to create a cookbook to gift to my sisters and cousins at Christmas that year.

That was 2008 and the first time I failed on the life bucket list item of learning to cook like my mom. My progress on this goal smells bad. As you can tell.

Part of the problem is that I’m unsure if the food that I grew up on is the right food for keeping my body happy and healthy. Both of my parents have diabetes, so I’m skeptical. Enshrining these recipes I don’t see myself using very often doesn’t excite me.

And I don’t like to cook.

That’s my excuse for not posting a recipe in like a year.

Today’s dish isprobably my mother’s signature dish. This is the one she would challenge Bobby Flay to in a throwdown. Shera, a.k.a. halwa a.k.a. cream of wheat dessert. Just so we’re clear, nobody has ever called it cream of wheat dessert.

Ingredients

1/2 cup cream of wheat
1/4 of a stick of butter or 1/4 of a cup of ghee (clarified butter)
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup whole milk
1/2 cup water
1/4 tsp cardamon powder
a handful of almonds
a handful of raisins
a few sprinkles of saffron if you’re feeling rich

Directions

1. Melt the butter in a pan over medium heat.

2. Add in the cream of wheat and stir, stir, stir.

Acceptable deviations

You can throw the almonds in with the raisins to toast them a bit.
You can add sliced bananas.

Herman Hudson December 18, 2017
If you left out the sugar it would be a great dish. Why? Sugar causes inflammation in the body, especially the brain.
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1. Thriftygal Post authorDecember 18, 2017
  Sugar is the root of so many issues. I’m not sure how this dish would taste without the sugar though.
  Reply ↓
  See Also
  Anti-Inflammatory Turmeric Recipe for Salad Dressing
  1. Anjani December 18, 2017
    is it??? 🙁
    Reply ↓
    1. Thriftygal Post authorDecember 18, 2017
      I recommend reading anything by Gary Taubes as a good science explanation.
      Reply ↓
Anjani December 18, 2017
I eat lot of sweets, have cut down a lot but still eat.. 🙁
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Ally December 19, 2017
I’m curious whether the original dish used white sugar, or whether something like honey would work. The recipe looks rice pudding-y.
Does your mom have a good baingan bharta recipe. I had my first taste of a dip from a once a month downtown market that I thought was awesome and I’m looking to replicate
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1. Thriftygal Post authorDecember 19, 2017
  Fire eggplant! Here’s that recipe
  Reply ↓
Andy December 20, 2017
Hey Anita, congrats on your recent diet and fitness success! I think you already look badass. No doubt anyone would think twice before cutting in line in front of you at the grocery store.
Regarding diet, can you share some staples that you go for frequently? I’m also not much into cooking, I’ve been on and off low-carb, and as of this year I’m trying to avoid meat. I’m a flippant dieter, what can I say. I did the vegetarian option for Hello Fresh recently (free trial, plus a few more), but it’s so carb-heavy. Where do you eat that serves good low-carb vegetarian options? Shopping recommendations? Thanks!!
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1. Thriftygal Post authorDecember 20, 2017
  I’m working on a couple of articles on diet. Right now I’m still experimenting. Stay tuned!
  Reply ↓
  1. Andy December 20, 2017
    Excellent! Can’t wait!
    Reply ↓
    1. Thriftygal Post authorDecember 21, 2017
      Don’t get too excited. You must never forget that I have no idea what I’m doing.
      Reply ↓
      1. Andy December 21, 2017
        Yes yes, but you’re smart and wonderful, so there’s that. **Waits obediently**
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      2. Andy December 21, 2017
        my ascii art got smushed … WordPress! *shakes fist*
Laszo December 22, 2017
You made me laugh. Ultimately, and unfortunately, we are killed by what we eat. But Hippocrates said ‘let your food be your medicine’. This makes me think of how clever he was, and how stupid I am. Haha.
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Liz S December 29, 2017
Looks delicious! Have to try!
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Thoughts? Recommendations? Candy? Anything you can give me is highly appreciated.

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